About Brad
The Short Story
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Brad Szollose (pronounced zolis) is the award winning* author of Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia- Multigenerational Management Ideas That Are Changing the Way We Run Things. ISBN-13: 978-1608320554
Over the past 15 years, Brad observed a startling change in corporate America; the latest generation of adult workers known as Generation Y grew up immersed in new technologies, such as multi-player video games, Speak & Spell, Internet Pen Pals and a computer in the home. Along with parents who viewed them as peers and a micromanaged activity list of karate classes and dance lessons. And now you expect them to sit in a cubicle for 8 hours a day? They can’t do it.
This 24/7 connected, early adopter to anything technologically driven has created a whole new divide, in which more and more young people are growing up as Digital Natives – comfortable using technology as their primary resource to do business – while the established older generation of Baby Boomers are struggling to use technology just to keep up. The sudden increase in Smart Phones, smaller laptops, texting as a form of communication, social networks and augmented reality are all being driven by Generation X, Generation Y and Millennial thinking (anyone born after 1977). |
Will Baby Boomers stop being relevant
in the not too distant future?
Szollose studied this phenomenon and realized that everyone—business owners, executives, parents, school teachers and college professors —would be facing a whole new generation that they were incapable of communicating with. Each generation must be made aware of this “cultural” difference and adjust their management methods accordingly if they wish to succeed. The result of this research is Brad’s new book, Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia – Multigenerational Management Ideas That Are Changing The Way We Run Things.
Are you ready to adjust your leadership style to the 21st Century?
* 2011 Axiom Business Book Awards silver medal winner in the leadership category.
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With over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience Brad is no stranger to the Boardroom – during the Dot Com Era of the early 90′s, Brad co-founded K2 Design, Inc. which later raised over $7 million through private placement and an IPO. Brad’s tenure at K2 was explosive – the company experienced 425% growth for 5 straight years, expanded from 2 business partners to 4 and expanded to 60+ employees and offices worldwide. K2 was once valuated at over $26 million. |
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As an Executive Brad applied his unique management style to a young, tech savvy Generation X & Y Workforce producing great results. Brad’s management model won K2 the Arthur Andersen NY Enterprise Award for Best Practices for Fostering Innovation Among Employees.
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The Long Story
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Brad Szollose started his first business in 1979 at the age of 16, (Don’t be impressed. Brad’s first business venture was started out of desperation because his father refused to give him an allowance). Ironically, that was the same year he won his first design award for a state-wide catalog cover design competition. Having an extensive art program at Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania helped fuel his decision to become a graphic designer instead of a professional drummer.
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Brad moved to New York City in 1984 and quickly became a noted multi-media designer, freelancing for such companies as The Caribiner Group, Roger Wade Productions and Meeting Makers— producers of large-scale corporate theater and related promotional and entertainment events.
During his tenure at these companies, Brad worked on the national and international sales meetings for the following corporations: American Express, BMW, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bozell, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coty, Ethicon, Ford Motor Cars & Lincoln Mercury, IBM, Mercedes Benz, Merck, Mobile, Novartis, Pfizer, Rhône Poulenc Rhorer, Novartis, Seagram’s, Self Magazine, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Sunoco, Tahitian Noni, Vintner’s, WavePhore and Xerox.
After almost 10 years as a professional designer and creative director in corporate events and sales meetings, Brad wanted to try something new. |
In ’93, one year after a treacherous mountain climbing adventure with college friend and fellow creative director Douglas Cleek, Brad and Doug founded K2 Design, Inc. By 1994 they decided to transition K2 into new territory turning their company into an Internet Development and interactive ad agency. Both Doug and Brad envisioned a full-service, totally creative, interactive studio that specialized in building brand awareness and 1:1 relationships over the Internet.
Little did they know that the Dot Com Boom was about to begin and K2 was positioned to ride the Web 1.0 wave.
Brad became a Board Member fr the now publicly traded company he founded, as well as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Creative Director for K2′s public and investor image.
Day to day, he managed a team of Generation X & Y employees raised on the Internet, laptops and video games – and developed a way to manage their multitasking and creative nature. He did this by trying to understand what made them tick. Brad’s management model won K2 the Arthur Andersen NY Enterprise Award for Best Practices for Fostering Innovation Among Employees.
Eventually and due in part to 95-hour work weeks for 5 years straight, Brad stepped down from his C-Suite executive position in 1998 to pursue other business ventures. He remained active on K2’s board of directors until 2000.
Since then, Brad has consulted with entrepreneurs, executives and businesses alike on moving their organizations into the Information Age. Projects have included product launches, creative direction, brand development, leadership training, emerging technology consulting, automating business models for the The Internet, Generation Y Management, technological comprehension and one-on-one coaching for entrepreneurs and executive committees.
With almost 30 years as an entrepreneur, owning everything from a single proprietorship to a publicly traded company, to sitting on the board of directors for several companies, Brad is one of the few business coaches with experience in both entrepreneurial start ups to executive board level management and strategy.
